Roberts



ROBERTS MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING MATCH PACKETS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheet s-Sheet 1 Dec. 12, 1939. w. ROBERTS 2,182,830

MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING MATCH PACKETS AND THE LIKE I Filed May 10, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 12,1939. E 2,182,880

MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING MATCH PACKETS AND THE LIKE Filed May 10, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 12, 1939. 2,182,880

MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING MATCH PACKETS AND THE LIKE w. ROBERTS Filed May 10, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 93 HQJM 8 1.. .A. WN

25 f I HEOTOTLOI W. ROBERTS Dec. 12, 1939.

MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING MATCH PACKETS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 10, 1938 mm. Aw

a Nb wwn w Patented Dec. 12, 1939 UNITED. STATES MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING MATCH PACKETS AND THE LIKE William Roberts, Oswego, N. Y., assignor to The Diamond Match Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application May 10, 1938, Serial No. 207,050

8 Claims. 0 (Cl. 226-4) This invention relates to mechanism for assembling match packets and the like, and especially book matches of the type wherein each book comprises one or more cards of matches enclosed in a flexible cover having a long front flap which when closed is adapted to be tucked under the free edge of a short front retaining fold to which and the back of the cover are fastened the base or bases of the match card or cards.

The principal object of my invention is to provide mechanism of simple and efficient construction and operation adapted to receive the match books as they are discharged from a match booking machine in similar end and face arrangement, set the books in a row with their closed covers vertically disposed, and tilt and up-end the alternate books of the row in such manner that the adjacent books are in reversed end relation and the smooth back of each book is opposed to the folded front of the adjacent book. Such disposition of the books obviates any liability of the interlocking of the opposing folds of adjacent books (as Where the folded fronts of the books are in contact) during the removal of a book from a container in which they may be subsequently stacked, as, for example, the supply hopper of a machine for vending book matches.

With this object in View (and others) my invention comprises novel features of construction and combinations of parts, which in a preferred form will be hereinafter described, the scope of the invention then being expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of the delivery end of a match booking machine equipped with book assembling mechanism embodying the principle of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial plan of a. book guiding and supporting structure into which the closed books are delivered, pair by pair, when they leave the flap tucking devices of the booking machine, showing the oscillatory book-feeding fingers, and adjacent parts.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section, as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, a match book being shown as seated in the path of one of the feeding fingers.

Fig. 4 is a plan of the assembling mechanism including an intermittently movable pocketed carrier wherein two progressing rows of match books are represented.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section, as on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Figs. 6 and 7 are transverse sections through the carrier, and adjacent parts, as on the lines 6-6 and 1'i, respectively, of Fig. 5, showing the match books as seated in the deep and shallow pockets, respectively, at the receiving end ofthe carrier.

Figs. 8 to 15, inclusive, are similar sections, as

progress of the books, in proper end and face arrangement, are

delivered by the carrier.

Referring to the drawings, 20 designates the usual intermittently rotatable flap folding wheel of a typical match booking machine, from which wheel the match books B, in succeeding pairs, are delivered horizontally in similar end and face arrangement, the larger or head ends of the books leading and the folded faces of the covers being upward. The books thus arranged are deposited upon resilient supporting plates 2| by the action of a reciprocating ejector frame 22, which plates are mounted on a base member 23 having parallel channels 24 which receive the books in fiatwise position. The free ends of the plates 2| overhang a stationary tucker block 25 on the member 23, and underlie two tucker members 23 which are carried by reciprocating arms 27. These arms are actuated in the usual manner to insert the free ends of the cover flaps a of each succeeding pair of books B under the stapled short folds c .of the covers at the narrow ends of the respective books. The next succeeding pair of books in their passage to and upon the plates 2 I, push the closed books from the plates into the channels 28 of a bed 29 which is supported by a stationary bracket 30. The bed 29 is slightly inclined dcwnwardly and rearwardly toward the path of an intermittently movable pocketed carrier 3| into each succeeding pair of pockets of which are inserted a pair of closed books by way of the channels 28. In the present instance the floors of these channels are longitudinally slotted for the free passage therethrough of the acting ends of upstanding oscillatory flngers 32 fast on a rockshaft 33 which is journaled in bearings in the bracket 30. The fingers in their to and fro movement engage each succeeding pair of closed books in the channe1s'28 and advance them in an orderly manner, to the carrier pockets which are positioned to receive the books.

'The'rock-shaft 33 is provided'with a depending actuating arm 34 which is connected by means of a link 35 with the upstanding arm 36 of a rocklever which is fulcrumed on a stud on an upstanding bracket 31. The other arm, 38, of the lever is connected by means of a rod 39 with a yoke 40 slidably supported on a wrist block 4| loose on a driven shaft 42 of the match booking machine. The slide yoke bears a lateral roll 43 which is operatively fitted in the raceof an adjacent face cam 44 fast on the shaft 42, The contour of the cam is such that during each rotation thereof the fingers 32 are actuated through the described connections in timed relation with the ejector frame 22.

To prevent upward displacement of the books which are seated in the channels 28, leaf springs 45 are arranged to overhang and bear upon the respective books. These springs are secured to a supporting member 46 which rests upon the bed 29 and is removably held thereon by means such as dowels ll. A relatively heavy block 48 imposed on the member 48 aids in maintaining the latter in place. (See Figs. 1, 2 and 3.)

The pocketed carrier in the preferred form illustrated comprises two spaced parallel chains 49 which pass about pairs of forwardly and rearwardly located sprocket wheels 58, respectively. The forward wheels are fast on a transverse shaft 52 which is journaled in bearings in depending side members 53 of a table 54, and the rearward wheels are loose on a shaft 55 which is fixed in similar members. The axis of the forward shaft 5?. is in the same horizontal plane, or substantially so, as the exits of the channels of the bed 29, and the table is positioned to support in a horizontal path the major portions of the upper runs of the chains. The axis of the rearward shaft 55 is somewhat lower than that of the forward shaft and is so disposed that as the chains progress rearwardly from the table they incline downwardly to the sprockets 51 in a manner gradually to lower the pockets below the top of the table, as will presently appear.

The table, which is conveniently supported by a head piece 56 on a suitably erected column 51, has upstanding side flanges 58 which serve to guide the upper runs of the chains in their horizontal travel. These flanges also support longitudinal plates 59 which overhang the adjacent chains, and in conjunction with an intermediate longitudinal plate 60, which is supported on a median longitudinal bar 6| on the table, afford an elongated floor structure having parallel slots through which the carrier pockets freely extend. The forward ends of the plates 59 and 60 are curved downwardly, as at 82, adjacent and concentric with the curvature of the chains as they round the sprockets 50. The rearward ends of the plates are prolonged beyond the table and overhang the downwardly inclined portions of the chain, thus serving as the floor of a packing trough 63. This packing trough includes two rearwardly extending parallel channels 64 for the reception of the respective rows of books, as will be hereinafter explained.

The carrier pockets, 65, are mounted on the succeeding links of the respective chains 49, thus providing a continuous succession of articulated holders or receptacles for the free support of the match books. Each pocket comprises a bifurcated 0r U-shaped member having parallel sides 66 and a base 81, the base being firmly secured to the link, as by rivets 68. The alternate pockets of each chain are of less depth than the others, preferably by providing the alternate pockets with suitable bottom blocks 69 which are conveniently held by the rivets 68 that secure the pockets to the chain.

Any suitable means for intermittently actuating the match book carrier in timed relation to th feeding fingers 32 may be employed. In the present instance the forward actuating shaft 52 has fast thereon a ratchet wheel H! with the teeth of which co-acts a vibratory pawl H which is mounted on an arm 12 hung on the shaft 52.

This arm 12 is connected by means of a link 13 with the upstanding arm 14 of a lever which is fulcrumed on a stud on the bracket 31, the lower arm 15 of the lever being, in turn, connected by a link 16 with the strap 11 of a suitable eccentric 18 fast on the driven shaft 42 of the booking machine. Thus, during each rotation of the shaft 42 the arm 14 is oscillated in a manner to effect through its pawl and ratchet connection with the chain actuating shaft 52 the clockwise advancement of the carrier, thus positioning a pair of empty pockets for the reception of a pair of books as the latter are being ejected from the channels 28 by the fingers 32.

In the intermittent travel of the carrier the books, larger ends leading, are entered in each succeeding pair of empty pockets, those in the alternate pairs of pockets, (which have the bottom blocks) projecting somewhat farther outward than those in the other or deeper pockets, as seen in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. The books introduced in the pockets progress upwardly and rearwardly in two parallel rows. To obviate liability of vertical displacement of the books within the pockets as the former in their travel approach the upper or vertical position, spring fingers 19 are arranged to overhang the upper or narrow ends of the elevated books, which springs are conveniently mounted on the block 48 hereinbefore referred to.

In their rearward travel the outwardly extending alternate books of the two rows are progressively turned in their respective pockets, independently of each other, through an arc of 180, thus arranging such books in reversed end relation and with their smooth backs adjacent the folded fronts of the other books. Thereupon the books, thus arranged in rows, are freed from the respective pockets and advanced along the rearwardly extending parallel channels 64 of the packing trough.

The means herein illustrated for endwise turning the alternate books during their progress with the carrier includes two pairs of cam rods, 80 and 8!, which extend longitudinally of and adjacent the upper run of the carrier. The rods 80 comprise curved members 82 which rise from a stationary supporting member, as 83, that is located between the paths of the books as they are entered in the pockets of the carrier. The members 82 of the rods 80 curve upwardly and rearwardly adjacent the paths of the mouths of the pockets as such pockets and their contained books are advanced. The curvature of the members 82 is slightly eccentric to such paths so that when the alternate books progress to and near the vertical position, the outwardly projecting narrow ends of the books lie laterally of the members 82, and the narrow ends of the adjacent books are below and clear of such members. The members 82 diverge rearwardly, as at 84, to the outer sides of the paths of the respective rows of pockets, and then incline downwardly and rearwardly, as at 85, to positions adjacent the respective outer side walls of the packing trough, which walls are conveniently afforded by angle bars 86 secured to and extending longitudinally of the table. The rearward ends of the rods 80 are firmly secured by brackets 81 on the side walls of the packing trough.

To ensure the contact of the inner sides of the successive books with the opposing curved members 82 of the rods, 88, as such books are entered in the carrier pockets directly above the supporting member 83, spring plates 88 are arranged to bear against the outer sides of the respective books. These springs are secured to brackets 89 which, in turn, are secured to adjacent fixtures, as for example, the downwardly curved forward members 90 of the angle bars 86. (See Figs. 1, 4 and 5.)

The relation of the pairs of cam rods 80 and BI to each other and to the carrier is such that as the books which have been inserted in the pockets by the fingers 32 approach the vertical position, the outer ends of the books in the deeper pockets pass below and clear both pairs of rods, while the outwardly projecting inner sides of the other books remain in contact with the rods 80 and meet the diverging members 84 of the latter immediately before the projecting books reach the free ends of the outer rods 8|. Thereupon such members 84 gradually tip the opposing books outwardly, thus positioning the outer upper corners of such books below the rods 8|, as indicated at :c in Figs. 4 and 8. Hence as the books in the shallow pockets continue their rear- Ward travel such outer corners move below, and

' members 92 of the angle bars 86, remaining there- .60. middle floor plate so and the central supporting on until the books approach the rearward ends of the respective rods 8|, as indicated in Figs. 4, 8, 9, 10 and 11. Thereupon the books are caused to assume the relative positions indicated in Fig.

12; that is to say, the books lie transversely of the pockets with the larger ends of the books adjacent each other, as will presently appear.

The curvature of the forward .ends of the bars 86 corresponds with that of the floor plates, and the forward portions of the members 92 are suitably arranged to prevent outward displacement of the books as they are carried by the pockets from the lower to the upper level. Inward displacement of the books during this interval is prevented by two spaced segmental plates 93 which conform with the curvature of the plate The segmental plates are secured to the member 83, which latter is also secured to the lower end of the floor plate.

In Fig. 8 a pair of books are shown in their initially tipped positions, and also the relation thereto of the rods Ell and 8| and the inclined portions ill of the side bar members 92, and in Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 the books are shown in the positions which they are progressively caused to assume until they have made a quarterturn. In the latter case the inner enlarged ends of the books rest upon a central support while the outer or narrow ends of the books are flanked by the side members 92. The flanking positioning is ensured by the impingement of the outer ends of the books against outwardly flared lips 94 on the respective side bar members 92, as the books reach the lower ends of the inclined portions 91 of such members.

The central support just referred to comprises two spaced plates 95 which are secured to a rearwardly extending spacer bar 96 on the floor plate Ell. The forward end of this bar and the corresponding ends of the plates 95 are inclined upwardly and rearwardly, as at 91, and the bodies of the plates, extending to the rear of the floor, form the inner walls of the parallel channels 64 of the packing trough.

In the continued advancement of the carrier and the books, following the escape of the projecting alternate books from the rods 8!, the inner or larger ends of such books ride upon the inclined surfaces 87 of the plates 95, which surfaces, progressively raising the opposing ends of the books, tilt the books bodily outward until they are up-ended, as seen in Figs. 13, 14 and 15; That is to say, in their initial movement on the opposing surfaces 91 the books in a pair of shallow pockets are thereby tipped outwardly and the outer corners of the upper sides of the books are positioned below and against the rods 88, while the narrow ends of the books rest upon and are supported by opposing downwardly and rearwardly inclined portions 98 formed on the side bar members 92. These portions are located below the inclined members of the rods 80 and directly rearward of the inclined portions SI of the members 92. (See Fig. 1.)

As the books continue their rearward travel their inner ends are progressively raised by the opposing surfaces 91 of the plates 95, while the outer sides of the books move in contact with the rods Bil until the books approach the lower ends of the inclined surfaces 98 of the bar members 92, whereupon such book sides impinge against outwardly flared lips 99 on the side walls of the packing trough, which lips, similarly to the lips it, move the books inwardly from the support of the surfaces 98, thus permitting the books to assume their relative vertical positions, larger ends upward, as indicated in Fig. 15. This done,

the succeeding pairsv of books borne by the carrier in the desired end and, face arrangement progress into the respective channels 64 of the packing trough, the declination'of the chains 49 gradually withdrawing the pockets from the books, and the latter being advanced in compact orderly-rows along the channels by the rearward pressure of the succeeding incoming books on the preceding books from which the pockets have been withdrawn.

By the foregoing described construction embodying my invention it will. be seen that as the closed match books are rapidly discharged,

'pair by pair and in similar end and face arend relation and the folded face of each book of the row faces the smooth back of the adjacent book, and that the two rows of books thus arranged are progressively delivered in parallelism to a trough from which they may be readily removed and placed in suitable cartons.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular exemplifying form thereof herein disclosed, as the mechanism may be modified within the principle of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In mechanism for assembling packets, each including a cover having a flatback and a folded front portion, means for successively feeding the closed packets in similar end and face arrangement and in endwise relation, a carrier having a succession of open pockets, means for actuating said carrier to locate each succeeding empty pocket for the reception of a packet advanced er idwise thereto by the feeding means, said pocket having spaced side walls which confine ahd guide the front and back of the contained book, and means for progressively tipping and up-ending alternate packets within the confines of the said side walls of their respective pockets during the travel of the carrier.

2. In mechanism for assembling packets, each including a cover having a flat back and a folded front portion, means for successively feeding the closed packets in similar end and face arrangement and in endwise relation, a carrier having a succession of open pockets, means for actuating said carrier to locate each succeeding empty pocket for the reception of a packet advanced endwise thereto by the feeding means, said pocket having spaced side walls which confine and guide the front and back of the contained book, and means including co-related cam members laterally adjacent the carrier for progressively tipping and up-ending alternate packets within the confines of the said side Walls of their respective pockets during the travel of the carrier.

3. In mechanism for assembling packets, each including a cover having a flat back and a folded front portion, means for successively feeding the closed packets in similar end and face arrangement, a carrier having a succession of open pockets, means for actuating said carrier to locate each succeeding empty pocket for the reception of a packet advanced by the feeding means, the alternate pockets being of less depth than the others so that the outer ends of the packets contained in said alternate pockets project beyond the adjacent packets, and means for engaging the projecting packets and thereby progressively tipping and up-ending them wit iin their respective pockets during the travel of the carrier.

4. In mechanism for assembling packets, each including a cover having a fiat back and a folded front portion, means for successively feeding the closed packets in similar and and face arrangement, a carrier having a succession of open pockets, means for actuating said carrier to locate each succeeding empty pocket for the reception of a packet advanced by the feeding means, the alternate pockets being of less depth than the others so that the outer ends of the packets contained in said alternate pockets project beyond the adjacent packets, and means, including longitudinally extending cam members laterally adjacent said carrier, for engaging said projecting packets and thereby tipping and upending them within their respective pockets during the travel of the carrier.

5. In mechanism for assembling packets, each including a cover having a flat back and a folded front portion, means for successively feeding the closed packets in similar end and face arrangement, an endless chain carrier having a succession of open pockets, means for actuating said carrier to locate each succeeding empty pocket for the reception of a packet advanced by the feeding means, the alternate pockets being of less depth than the others so that the outer ends of the pockets contained in said alternate pockets project beyond the adjacent packets, and means including a cam element adjacent the upper run of said carrier for engaging said projecting packets and thereby progressively tipping and upendin them within their respective pockets, and including also cam members located adjacent the said run for supporting and guiding said alternate packets during the tipping of the latter.

6. In mechanism for assemblying packets, each including a cover having a fiat back and a folded front portion, means for successively feeding the closed packets in similar end and face arrangement, an endless chain carrier having a succession of open pockets, means for actuating said carrier to locate each succeeding empty pocket for the reception of a packet advanced by the feeding means, the alternate pockets being of less depth than the others so that the outer ends of the packets contained in said alternate pockets project beyond the adjacent packets, a support for the upper run of the carrier, a wall on said support extending adjacent one side of the carrier, said wall having succeeding inclined upper A i ment and in endwise relation, a carrier having a succession of open pockets, means for actuating said carrier to locate each succeeding empty pocket for the reception of a packet advanced endwise thereto by the feeding means, said pocket having spaced side walls which confine and guide the front and back of the contained book, means for progressively tipping and upending alternate packets within the confines of the said side walls of their respective pockets during the travel of the carrier, and a rearwardly extending trough into the receiving end of which the delivery end of the carrier travels rearwardly and downwardly, thus withdrawing the pockets successively from their contained packets and placing such packets in an orderly row within the trough.

8. In mechanism for assembling packets, each including a cover having a flat back and a folded front portion, means for successively feeding the closed packets in similar end and face arrangement, an endless chain carrier having a succession of open pockets, means for actuating said carrier to locate each succeeding empty pocket for the reception of a packet advanced by the feeding means, the alternate pockets being of less depth than the others so that the outer ends of the packets contained in said alternate pockets project beyond the adjacent packets, a support for the upper run of the carrier, a wall on said support extending adjacent one side of the carrier, said wall having succeeding inclined upper portions, means including stationary cam members which co-act with each other and with the said inclined portions to tip and up-end the projecting packets within their respective pockets during the travel of the carrier, and a rearwardly extending trough into the receiving end of which the delivery end of the carrier travels rearwardly and downwardly, thus withdrawing the pockets successively from their contained packets and placing such packets in an orderly row within the trough.

WILLIAM ROBERTS. 

